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Sunday, October 9, 2016

Vote Like Your Soul Depends on It, Catholics, because It Does.

“Your soul will be in grave danger” if you vote for a candidate and party that are committed to expanding abortion on demand, “especially if you present yourself for Holy Communion after casting such a vote with the full knowledge of what you’re doing,” the rector of the Cathedral of Sts. Simon and Jude said in a homily skewering pro-abortion arguments and informing Catholics of their duty to vote pro-life....

Priests have a duty to speak out about the issue of abortion, Lankeit said, quoting Scripture. And everyone has “a serious obligation to protect human life,” he continued. “Whoever fails to do this, when otherwise able to do so, commits a serious sin of omission. They jeopardize their own spiritual well-being and are a source of scandal for others. Should they be Catholics, they should not receive Holy Communion.”

“A priest who is more concerned about the state of his people’s souls than they are themselves deserves the esteem of his people for his willingness to speak such difficult truth to them with genuine love—to put the welfare of his people’s souls ahead of his own reputation, popularity, or comfort,” Lankeit said. “Such a priest should receive respect, admiration, and support, rather than their resistance or criticism.”

Lankeit finished his homily with a final bombshell: “So please pray for, thank and encourage the spiritual father that God has appointed for you and who loves you enough to tell you the truth with those challenging words. Because the priest who said these particular words is your bishop — and my bishop.”

19 comments:

I will vote for Darrell Castle, of the Constitution Party, a strong supporter of Life and sound Constitution based governance. He is a successful attorney; an ex-Marine. He is a mature adult. He is a Patriot.

I will not vote for Donald Trump, a vile perverted sexual predator who reluctantly and lately changed his views on Life after switching to the Republican Party. He is and has always been a Statist with big government solutions unrestrained by Constitutional limits. He is a strange, dangerous man. He is dishonest to his deepest core. He will disappoint on his only asset: policy promises.

I understand the revulsion toward Hillary. It would have been good, though, if conservatives had been equally honest about the Republican alternative. He is forcing us all to decide how far we are willing to go with him down his path of immorality for the sake of political policy promises. He is now on tape admitting, bragging, to sexual assault on married women. Is that not enough? He will not improve. There will be much more from his past to come. Unrestrained, ultimate power will make it worse in his future.

Aligning yourself with this man is not just a political choice; it is also a moral choice. Yes. I WILL vote as if my soul depends on it. It is no longer enough to simply pull the lever marked R.

I wonder, Brian, how you would appear if everything you have ever said privately, in a locker room, at a bar with your buddies, etc. were exposed for the world to see -- not to mention your actions. I certainly have plenty of moments in my life that would not reflect well on me -- both words and actions.

I will vote for Trump with a clear conscience. The pro-life issue has NEVER been front and center before to the degree it has been in this election. Do I recognize I'm supporting a flawed candidate? Of course. But I am not so cynical that I believe he is totally without integrity and will throw every commitment he made out the window.

Our 25th grandchild is arriving in January. If Hillary wins I fully expect outright persecution of the Church, perhaps even like happened in Mexico less than 100 years ago. I owe it to my precious little ones to do whatever I can to help delay that. Hillary is a sure thing to further destroy America. In fact, I believe that will be our death knell. Donald Trump is no Savior, but the hatred the left has for him and the strongest and most moral Republican platform in my lifetime are elements in his favor.

This is a war. The Church has never favored lost causes. Darrell Castle may be everything you say although I bet ten to one he has his own skeletons in the closet because we all do. But it's a sure thing that he is a lost cause. I would rather vote for a possible victory than a sure defeat.

Trump is not the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is Islam which Hillary is for. She wants more Muslims in the US while Trump wants to curb their entry.

By your support of...who is is again? I never heard of him anyway.... you're voting, as Mary Ann says, for a sure defeat. Wasting your vote by throwing it away, means you are literally trading your vote for the Anti-Christ to triumph. Why? Because your vote for (whoever it is) means nothing since it will have been cast deliberately for a lost cause. It's like hard earned money thrown down the drain.

My vote is for www.TomHoefling.com. Bishop Conley's statement clearly states that a good Catholic has the right to vote 3rd party if their conscience does not allow a vote for either of the top candidates. I am invoking my right to have a clear conscience.

For those who insist that this man, Trump, spoke in a private conversation when he was admitting to ASSAULTING a woman and trying to conquer a married woman, you are soul ripping wrong! He was 60 years old. He was already married to Melania. He was already a Grandfather and had grown children. He wasn't a teenager who had regrets for his past. 60 yrs old!! He knew he was being recorded. If it's that easy to quiet your conscience by defending this deviant, so be it. But I refuse to play that game. My vote will honor God and His commandments. God bless America!

I'm not sure you have all your facts straight, Rosalinda, but in any case Trump wouldn't be the first to be a flawed seriously sinful man selected by God as a leader of a nation. King David, a man "after God's own heart," had Uriah murdered so he could marry his wife with whom he had committed adultery. My goodness, how could God sully his conscience by letting "this deviant" continue as king of Israel?

I'm not sure you have all your facts straight, Rosalinda, but in any case Trump wouldn't be the first to be a flawed seriously sinful man selected by God as a leader of a nation. King David, a man "after God's own heart," had Uriah murdered so he could marry his wife with whom he had committed adultery. My goodness, how could God sully his conscience by letting "this deviant" continue as king of Israel?

And, Sassy, the only sin that's unforgivable is the sin against the Holy Spirit which is final unrepentance. Let's pray for Donald Trump that he is truly changed by his contact with so many solid pro-life leaders during this campaign.

First. No. I have not. I do not. I will not. Ever. Sin? Of Course, (thanks be to God for the Sacrament of Penance). Talk of, or think of, or treat women in this way? Never. Not if my life depended on it.

Second this is not "locker room talk". Maybe modern middle schoolers. Adults? Never in my 54 years. Trump is describing sexual assault; casually "having sex" with a married woman while he is still a "married" man, (59 year old grandpa). Talking of God's young daughter as if she were meat. This is who he is. All the time. And please; guys.do.not.talk.like.that. Perverts do.

And need I remind you he is running not for middle school class president, but for the highest Office on earth? Under the conservative banner? With YOUR positive vote of affirmation? We are not just discussing detention hall for one of America's children.

When Bill Clinton did what he did in the Oval Office with Monica, the 20 year old intern, after many other previous sex assault allegations, conservatives were appalled that liberals were unwilling to hold him responsible for any of it. We talked of impeachment. We insisted morality, possible crimes, and the honour of the office outweighed their selfish policy ambitions. They, in turn, could not fathom why anyone cared what their guy did in private. Didn't everyone do similar things themselves? Wouldn't EVERYONE lie about sex? They used similar arguments then: "Well, after all, he is just a man with physical needs, just like other men". Remember that?

I remember a feminist journalist, Nina Burleigh, who said (in 1998) she would be happy to, you know what, to pay him back for keeping abortion legal. I and my conservative mates couldn't believe the hypocrisy of a "feminist" selling out the premise of her entire cause, (mutual respect not based on sexual favor or influence of unequal power), for practical abortion policy. They did. And they do. To this day.

We can NEVER use that standard in politics ever again if we compromise for our own selfish reasons. We will have crossed that line. This will set our new moral standard.

I thought conservatives were different. I remember a day when conservatives stood on principle first. And upon principle, policy was built.

You and I will never see eye to eye on this. I get that. But I am warning you that this man is dangerous and he is a moral cancer on the body politic. Just as Bill Clinton infected the Democrat "zombie nation", so will Trumpism infect what remains of good-hearted conservatives. I fear that, even if he loses, Trumpism will infect us even after he is gone.

Believe me: I do not condemn you (or Susan) for your opinions. This is one big mess with no clear way out. I just give you the other side, during the conscience forming process, and ask you to consider it in good faith.

Your comment about King David is a case in point for what I am talking about. Trumpism changes our moral compass. Trump, selected by God, just like King David? Really?

The true "man after God's own heart", David, from whom Jesus descended directly, was a holy man in whom God took much pleasure. Yes, he sinned, but immediately repented in sackcloth and ashes when confronted with his sins. I sense he made quite the spectacle of it in his Royal Court, by the biblical account. His courtiers were concerned for his health. But he willingly listened to Nathan the Prophet and willingly did he receive God's punishment from Nathan's mouth. As I recall, he was given a choice of three punishments and chose that which would affect HIM MORE and his innocent SUBJECTS LESS.

He REPENTED. He returned to God, and made personal amends for the rest of his days.

You should not even put Trump into the same sentence as Holy King David, on many different levels. But start with that: repentance. David loved God with his heart, soul, mind and strength: the very essence of the Gospel message of Emmanuel. God loved him for that when he was nothing in the World's eyes, and blessed him with Royalty for it. Saul had the acclaim and the power. God cursed Saul because he did not OBEY UTTERLY. God raised up "foolish in the world's eyes" David; and with a slingshot and faith he conquered the world. David sinned, true, as all humans do, save Queen Mother Mary. And he repented, turned, and returned to a life of full devotion to God.

As for Trump? Today he referred to those who pulled their endorsements of him as "traitors". He is going after them. Surely his supporters will follow him. He is a vindictive, mendacious man and he is going to war against his new conservative enemies, certainly with the backing of his increasingly aggressive followers..

Trump is nothing at all like Holy King David. I would be careful about throwing in with this man.

As I've said in other venues, I have serious doubts about the intelligence and/or morals of these so-called "third-party-moral-alternatives". Unless they are completely stupid, they must know that any votes they might get will be votes siphoned from Trump. That will only reduce the number of votes that Hillary would win the White House. That said, they are completely indifferent to the fact that they are aiding Hillary's bid for the White House. That is morally problematic, to say the least.

Brian, I was not saying that Trump is chosen by God, but there is no evidence he ever brought about the murder of a rival. And your implication that Trump has changed my moral compass is presumptuous and insulting. As for Trump "going to war against his new conservative enemies" I haven't noticed dead bodies piling up around him like they do around the Clintons. As for his "increasingly aggressive followers" are they the ones blocking traffic to keep people from getting to rallies?

I don't see Trump as a savior and I think with the media and all the good old boys in the Republican party helping Hillary as well as Planned Parenthood pumping millions of our tax dollars into the election along with George Soros and his leftist thugs -- yes, he will probably lose. But he is what we have to oppose a woman I consider demonic.

You can do whatever you wish. I will not vote third party in this election. Oh...and I'm not posting any more of your comments on Trump. I've given you plenty of print already and I'm tired of the debate. And since I'm the moderator I'm pulling the plug!

Your insult bothers me not. That is on you. I have received many similar insults from other Tradition based Catholics. I have grown used to it. Insults. "Dumb. Not intelligent. Lack of morals. Blood n your hands. Etc." I understand that culture on secular forums. I do not, at all, on Catholic forums of conversation between Christian brothers and sisters. I have never indulged that myself.

We are supposed to make an intelligent vote, on Nov 5. We are supposed to listen to the candidates, and discuss the issues. Then make an informed decision. I have struggled mightily with this one, obviously. It has not helped, at all, to be insulted intellectually and morally and spiritually for my efforts.

What I was about to say, when I returned to this blog after tonight's debate, was that I came away from this debate very impressed by Trump. He actually made a strong positive impression that he has leadership and judgement skills to do this job. And I also thought of the manifest crimes of the smirking Hillary and her Bill. Fallen candidates, both.

I recognize the gravity of the moment. I have two children of draft age. I have a bunch more coming up with a long future in front of them. They will all live this future, long after I am gone. This is a turning point in history, and I will take every last day to make up my mind.

Tonight, Trump hit a home run. He was persuasive. If you, RestoreDC, think that admitting this makes me weak, or stupid, or immoral, I don't really care. Because I will continue to give this issue the due caution, thought and concern it deserves. I am happy for you that it is so easy.

I changed my mind, Brian, and posted these two comments to clarify. I did NOT block you generally. I said I would not post any more comments on Trump.

And insulting comments are not limited to Trump supporters. You disparaged them with your implication that they are morally compromised and violent. So perhaps it is time to just pray and await the outcome. I trust all serious Catholics will seek God's will and do the best we can.

If everyone who didn't want to vote for Trump but felt they had to because of name recognition, actually voted for Castle, Castle would win. It's 27 days to election and we have the internet and two horrible candidates at our back. We don't need a Trump wall (even Stalin can build a wall!) - we need a smaller government and smaller welfare complex to avoid attracting illegals. And we need to demand organizations like USCCB to stop taking government money for resettling people who will not assimilate.

As for assuming the Hilary voters would never switch to third party, no matter how bad Hilary is, I think that's largely unresolved abortion guilt over abortions, both of aborted women, and their partners. Easily accounting for upwards of 100,000,000 people....do the math! Can we reach out in this year of mercy and turn these true miserables around to the truth? What a powerful faith work that would be, even apart from the election! If not now, when? If not me, who?

You could say there's not enough time, but when the election's over every one will forget till the next time anyway. Remember the power of the internet...it may never be so free as it is now!

Castle isn't even on the ballot in Virginia. We have five candidates. Clinton, Trump, and independent, green party candidate, and a libertarian. If Castle didn't have enough support to even get on the ballot, how can he possibly win a national election?

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